National Republican., 1887-02-18
THE NATIONAL DEFENSES.
COMPREHENSIVE MEASURES UNDER
CONSIDERATION IN CONGRESS.
A Great Gun 20 be Tested Near wash
ington-House Committees Actively
at work-Considering tho senate's
Twin Ordancc Bills.
The forti1cation board, in its report to
Congress last session, stated:

The fortiGcation board, In its report to
Congress last session, stated;
The gun foundry board has estimated that
II would require at least three ycnrs TO estab-
lish proper plant for the construction OF mod
ern (steell guns. IL would, In all probability,
require two years more TO get out and prove
the first l6-inch gun.
The board recommends an appropriation
for the first year of $ol, 100000, and for
each succeeding year $0,000,0OO. Thus by
the time the trial gun should be ready for
test, as proposed by the board, $57 1900, 900
would have been expended.
An interesting feature OF this Important
subject which seems to have been lost sight
OF (but which has been heretofore men
toned In the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN) Is I
the fact that at this moment there Is nearly
completed at Reading, Pa, gun which II
is claimed will have longer range and
greater precision than any other gun In the
world--which conditions grow out OF the
mode Of mounting, so that when the gun
Iecoils 1t goes backward exactly In the line
Of the axis OF the bore at all elevations, and
therefore has no tendency TO divert the shot
from its aim. This great weapon was made
by the conversion of one OF the thousands
OF unscrviceable iron guns which the gov
ernment has had on hand for many years.
said TO be capable OF delivering $1,000
pounds Of projectiles In one hour of con.
eecutive firing, with velocity Of 1000 feet
per second.
II this gun should be brought to Wash
iDgton within a month or Two of the ap-
proyal by the President Of the bill to en-
courage the manufacture Of steel for guns,
and, after being mounted on the banks OF
the Potomac river near this city, should be
successfully tested In the presence Of the
President, the Secretaries Of War and Navy,
and many congressman Including the
chairmen OF the committees on approprla-
tions and military and naval affairs), 1t
would throw the ranks OF the ordnance ring
into great confusion. Such a showing
would undoubtedly cause the President to
direct that the disbursement Of the money
appropriated for gun steel, and involved In
the contracts now prepared for signature In
the department, should be suspended until
Congress could have an opportunity to take
action, and the probability is that those
laws would be repealed, Then would come
from the steel contractors claims for dam
ages amounting to an equivalent Of the
appropriations themselves.
COAST DEFENsE-ooMPREuENs MEAS
UREs
In accordance with the special order, Mr..
McAdoo's bill appropriating 10000, 900 for
defenses. was taken up yesterday by the
House committee on military affairs and
fully discussed. Several of the members Of
the committee were In favor Of reporting
the bill Immediately to the House with the
recommendation that 1t pass, but decided
majority were of the opinion that the bill be-
fore the committee should be maturely con-
sidered, with view to using 1t as basis for n
comprehensive measure to be reported by
the committee, covering the whole subject
of coast defenses. This view prevailed and
the session was spent in the discussion of
the matter, which will be further considered
at another meeting to-day.
THE sENATE's TWIN ORDNANCE BILLS.
The two Senate bills for the construction
Of ordnance, known as the "twin ord
nance" bills, have been referred by the ap-
preparations committee Of the House to
the subcommittee on Notifications which is
composed Of Messrs. Forney, Randall,
Butterworsh, Ryan, and Holman.
THE FoRTIFIcATIoN BILL.
There was no conference on the forti6ca-
tions bill Qast year's) yesterday. The Senate
conferees were present, but the House con-
ferees. Butterworth and Forney, came one
at time, and Mr.. Randall did not appear
at all. Another attempt is to be made to
hold meeting this afternoon.
COMMAND RESPECT OF OTHER NATIONS.
Senator Hoar presented resolutions of the
Massachusetts legislature In favor Of coast
defenses and the construction OF a navy
"that will command the confidence Of the
American people and the respect OF other
nations"
A NAVAL RESERVE PROM THE MERCHANT
MARINE.
The bill introduced by Senator Whit
thorne "a member Of the Senate committee
on naval affairs, formerly chairman Of the
House committee on naval affairs) author
ICES the enrolment from the commercial
marine Of such vessels as may, after inspec-
tion by the Navy Department, be shown to
be fitted for carrying two or more naval
guns OF modern construction and otherwise
suitable for cruisers, and which shall be
held by their owners subject on demand of
the government, to be used or taken rs a
partof the regular naval force of the United
States, upon such compensation as may be
determined by board of arbitrators mutu-
ally selected. For such construction and
prospective use bounty upon tonnage is
provided to be paid.
The bill also authorizes, after inspection,
the enrolment Of seamen OF American
. citizenship between the ages OF 20 and 45
years as part OF the naval reserve, providing
for their Instruction one month In each
year at regular naval stations, receiving for
each period the payment Of seamen In the
navy and according to their respective
grades, and granting bounty Of 300 in
GERS and men upon demand to be mustered
into the naval service OF the United States.
MORE MILLIONS FOR THE NAVY.
Following Is. the text of Senator Hale's
bill for the increase of the naval establish
ment, as 1t was completed and passed by
the. Senate yesterday by vote Of 46
against7.
That for the puIpose Of increasing the naval
establishment Of the United States the sums OF
money hereinafter named are hereby appro-
otherwise appropriated, 70 be expended by the
President, In the exercise of his discretion,
upon plans and specifications to be furnished
by the Navy, Department. For, the construc..
floating batteries or rams, to be used for coast
and harbor defense, $40, ,000, 900; for the con-
struction Of light-draught gunboats, suitable
100000, said gunboats to be completed aud
tested within twelve months from the date of
the signing OF any contract for their construc.
ha she snd S tor9e1S cscS Sgss
100000, said torpedo boats to be completed
and tested within twelve months from the
signing OF any contract for their constructions
operated from naval vessels. floating batteries
or rams, 100000.
SEC. 2. That for the armament of the vessels
hereinbefore provided for the sum of So, 900. 900
is hereby appropriated out of any money In the
treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Bee. 8. That the material used in all naval
structures provided for In this bill, and the
armament for the same, shall be furnished and
manufactured in the United States and all
contracts made for their construction shall be
under the provisions OF the act OF Aug. 3, 1885,
IAN act TO Increase the naval establishment"
SEC. 4. That the appropriations made by this
act shall be available during five years from
March 4, 1887.